Common Misconceptions About End-Of-Life Planning
It is no secret that one of the most difficult parts of being a caregiver to an aging loved one is planning for their eventual end-of-life. It is important to talk about this subject with your loved one, but it can be hard to know where to start and what questions to ask. In today’s blog post, we will look into a few common misconceptions about end-of-life planning for senior citizens in order to clear up some confusion and help you make these tough decisions more easily.
Misconception #1: We have forever to start planning
Let's first discuss the misconception that you have forever to plan for your senior loved one's death. It may seem a long ways off, but as soon as your parents are over 65, they are most likely in their last 10 to 20 years of life. The current average life expectancy in the United States is 78.
Don't wait until there are only a few months or weeks left before acting because then you may not be able to make all of the necessary arrangements in time, including the important financial elements. Doing so can also cause undue stress for both you and your loved one which could extend their illness unnecessarily. It's best to start planning early.
Misconception #2: It’s not something our family needs to talk about
Another misconception is that it's easier to avoid the topic of death. While it may be an uncomfortable subject, it gets even more uncomfortable when your loved one isn’t clearly able to communicate their wishes for end of life care. The last thing you want is for them to be put in a position where someone else is deciding everything for them and they end up in a situation they would not have wanted.
This could also lead down a path where you are denying or delaying necessary treatment in order to let nature take its course when instead there might only need be a few simple changes made so that life quality is maintained with dignity until the time comes if terminal illness does set in.
It’s best to be on the same page as a family, so when the time comes for end of life care, everyone is ready and at peace with decisions that have been made.
Misconception #3: We only need to plan for end-of-life care once
It is also a misconception that developing an end-of-life plan is only something you do once. Your loved one's wishes will likely change and evolve over time, so it is important to revisit these plans every few years or when there are changes in the family dynamics. Events like remarriage, a move, or rapidly developing health concerns are all examples of things that might call for reassessment of end of life plans.
If health concerns happen quicker than expected, you'll need to consult their doctor about what kind of care they should receive going forward because some treatments may no longer be appropriate while others could become necessary. This may include hospice care for patients who have entered the final phase where medical interventions are not helping anymore.
Misconception #4: You don’t need to look into hospice care services until death is imminent
While not pleasant to think about or discuss, it's important to at least look into and consider hospice services before death is imminent. You can call your local Wellness Home or Medicare provider as soon as there are signs of decline, even if it seems too early for the end-of-life plan to be activated yet because this will ensure a seamless transition when they do need more medical interventions and help with daily living tasks in order to continue enjoying their later years.
Start Planning Senior Living Care Today!
A major part of end-of-life planning is requesting senior living care for your loved one. Contact us today to learn more about our facility and how we can help.